Lock handle



Nov. 9 1926.

' RFG. MQQRE LOCK HANDLE Filed Feb. 14, 1924 I IN V EN TOR. EflWUNII E. MUURE.

' Farm.

ATTORNEYZ Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND G. MOORE, F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BASSICK COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

LOCK HANDLE.

Application filed February 14, 1924. Serial No. 692,634. I

This invention relates to an improved lock handle, particularly of the type adapted for use with the looks or latches of automobile doors. As is well known the outer surface of an automobile door is not always in a parallel plane with the lock, being 111 some cases inclined vertically and in others horizontally, with the result that the mounting of the handle and its escutcheon plate is im- HP perfect, and does not permit of the proper functioning of the handle.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a handle structure havlng an escutcheon mounted for universal movement, to the end that the same may be secured to the door in a manner as to perm1t the handle to be properly positioned at right angles to the lock, and to turn freely, without binding or loosenss, irrespective of the angular position of the escutcheon.

Another object is to provide such a handle construction in which the handle may be operated with facility, and in which there will be no end play or rattling. A further object is to provide a bearing between the handle and escutcheon which will at all times be weather tight, so that dust or moisture cannot seep into the interior of the door.

Qther objects are .to provide a device which is neat in appearance, simple and economical in construction, and free from any parts which might readily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view, an embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out -in the claims. J p

' In the drawings: i

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a handle according to the present embodiment of the invention, and showing the same attached to an automobile door;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the handle, and showing the door and lock to which it is attached in horizontal section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the haiaidle, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; an

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the several parts of the handle in separated and aligned relation.

. Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention shown therein is shown attached'toan automobile door 10', having a lock or latch 11 set in the rear side thereof adjacent the rabbeted edge, and provided with an oscillating roll-back 12 constituting the actuating element of the latch, said rollback having a square cross section bore for the insertion of the square handle shaft. The door is furthermore provided at its front side with a drilled hole 13 in line with the roll-back and adapted to receive the handle shaft.

The handle consists of a cylindrical shank 14 provided at its outer end with a hand plate or grip 15, and at its inner end with a reduced cylindrical extension 16 having a collar 17 secured thereon adjacent the shoulder between the shank and said extension, said. collar being provided with an inner spherical surface 18 forming an annular spherical surfaced recess about the exten- S1011- The collar 17 may be swaged, brazed,

or otherwise suitably secured, or it may, if desired, be formed integral with the handle shank. At the extremity of the extension 16 there is provided a reduced shouldered end portion 19 for receiving a spring re taining washer, as' will hereinafter. more fully appear.

The handle shaft 20 is of square cross section to fit the bore of the roll-back 12, and is provided with a knurled cylindrical extension 21 which is forced into a socket .lower ends wit 1 holes 26, which are engaged by screws 27 to attach the plate to the door.'

A spherical boss 28 is pressed forwardly from the center of the plate and is apertured, as at 29, to engage about he extension 16 of the handle shank in. spaced relat1on thereto, the outer spherical surface of the boss being of correspondin radius to the spherical recess 18 and snug y engaging within the same.

At the inner side of the escutcheon plate, and disposed within the boss 28 and about the extension 16 of the shank, there is provided a collar or shell 30., of substantially .hemi-spherical form, and apertured at its forward end, as at 31, to snugly en age about the extension, its inner end exten 'ng slightly rearwardly of the inner surface of the'escutcheon plate.

A coil spring 32 is disposed about the extcnsionlti within the shell, and is com-- allow of the free rotary action of the handle;

As isclear from Fig. 3 the spacing 'o'f' the aperture'29 of the boss 28 from the cxtension 16., and the rounded corner between the boss and the fiat surface of the escutcheon plate will permit of an appreciable angular rotation of the escutcheon about. the shell 30 in any desired direction. The relation of the parts is such that there is no appreciable end play and the handle will always function properly without looseness or rattling. If desired a washer may be interposed between the forward end of the spring 32 and the shell 30 to prevent any possibility of 3amming, but in the embodiment illustrated this is not deemed essential.

It is obvious that any wear upon the parts, through excessive use of the handle, is automatically taken up by the action of the spring, so that a tight, non-rattling struc ture is provided and maintained atall times.

According to the invention the several parts of the structure are assembled by the single operation of securin the handle shaft in the shank, and as clear y shown in Fi gs. 3 and 4. The escutcheon plate, shell, spring, and-retaining washer are engaged in their proper relation upon the extension 16, and thereupon the shaft is forced into the shank by suitable ressure applying means, the expansion of t e metal and the swaging of the end 19 inwardly into the groove 24 and outwardly behind the washer through abutment of the shoulder 23 with the end of the shank tightly securing the washer in place, and retaining the parts in their assembled relashaft having a spherical annular recess en gaging the convex side of said bearing, said shaft including a cylindrical portion extending inwardly from said shoulder, a substantially half-spherical apertured shell member slidably engaged upon and disposed annularly about said cylindrical portion of said shaft and engaging the concaveside of said bearing, a washer secured on said shaft and adapted to be abutted by the large end of said shell member, and spring means disposed within said shell member between the inner spherical surface and said washer and yieldably pressing the same into engagement with said bearin to permit universal movement between said shaft and bearing.

2. In a lock handle a rotatable shaft including a fixed shoulder having a spherical annular surface and a cylindrical portion extending inwardly from said shoulder, said cylindrical portion having a reduced annuhavinga socket extending from said inner end portion forwardly, a shank having a reduced'extension adapted to be inserted in larly recessed inner end portion, said shaft said socket, an abutment shoulder being provided 'at the junction of said shank and extension, a universal bearing for said shaft including spring pressed parts assembled about said cylindrical shaftportion and adapted to bear upon said fixed shoulder, and a retaining washer for said assembled spring pressed parts of the bearing engaged upon said annular recessed end of the cylindrical shaft portion, said recessed end in cluding an outwardly swaged portionfixedly securing said washer and produced by expansion of the metal at the inner end of said-shaft through insertion of said shank extension into said socket and abutment of said abutment shoulder against thev inner end of said shaft.

Signed at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 12th day of February, 1924.

RAYMOND G. MOORE. 

